Animal control issue flies coop ... for nowDOVER — Are chickens, ducks and guineas birds or fowl? The Dover City Council plans to answer that question before its next meeting. The council Tuesday night tabled taking action regarding animal control when it became clear during discussion that the ordinance, which was written in 1996, required further research. The ordinance allows residents to keep birds in pens but it prohibits fowl. Last month, the council received animal complaints fr...

Eaton named Arkansas Municipal League District 3 vice presidentRussellville Mayor Bill Eaton was recently elected as District 3 vice president of the Arkansas Municipal League. Eaton's new office was announced during the league's 80th annual convention in Little Rock, which took place June 18-20. He will serve as an officer of the league's executive committee, a group he has already been a member of. "I was a little bit surprised by this," Eaton said. "It's an honor to be considered, and I am very happy a...

Firework ordinances reviewedOne question is on many people's minds this time of year — when and where can I legally shoot fireworks? Below is a guide to city ordinances in the Arkansas River Valley. Russellville People in Russellville may shoot fireworks from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. today through Saturday. Dardanelle Within city limits, people are only allowed to shoot fireworks in Veterans Memorial Park. The allowed times are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. today, Thursday and Saturday, ...

Rain snags RSD roofing projectsArchitect Bob Hiegel updated the Russellville School Board on summer roofing projects during its regular June meeting. "The big problem with the roof is the rain," Hiegel said. The roofing project at the Information Technology (IT) building is "almost complete," Hiegel told the board. Despite a few problems at London Elementary School, the project is 50 percent complete, Hiegel said. "[We] had a minor leak due to rain, some ceiling tiles damag...

ACLU asks for halt on Voter IDThe American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Arkansas last week asked a state court to halt the voter ID law after research indicated more than 1,000 eligible votes were not counted in the May 20 primary. Pope County Election Coordinator Sherry Polsgrove said the new law had little effect in Pope County. Of the 7,382 ballots cast during the May primary, only 12 were provisional ballots, and only five of those were because of lack of identifica...

Plainview to see price hikePlainview residents can expect an increase in their water bills once Tri-County Regional Water District acquires the town's sewer and water system. "When we absorb it, and absorb their debt, their rates will change," General Manager John Choate said during Tri-County's regular meeting Thursday, adding the average monthly water bill in Plainview is currently $8-$10. Verlin Taylor, Pope County director, said he thinks it won't take long for resi...

Reasoner Lane talks ramp up The Russellville City Council discussed a new approach it plans to use in the development of capital projects, including an extension of Reasoner Lane, during its regular meeting Thursday at City Hall. Mayor Bill Eaton told the city’s Finance Committee he hoped to meet with ATU officials next week. Reasoner Lane would be extended to State Highway 124 near the Vista Place apartment complex. Finance Chairman Randy Horton said Friday a process is...

Two bids submitted for solid waste contract Two bids were submitted Friday by local companies who want to become the single trash service providers for the city of Russellville. Bruce Moore, solid waste contract administrator at the city’s Community Development office, said Waste Management and DC Trash submitted bids by noon Friday. Waste Management’s bid was $15.65 per customer, a significant decrease from its current price of $17.22 per customer, a difference of $1.57 per customer. D...

Sunset Cinema begins ThursdayThe eighth-annual Sunset Cinema will premier at 8:30 p.m. Thursday at Lake Dardanelle State Park. “Monsters University” is the first of three movies to be featured at the park by the Russellville Area Chamber of Commerce. The outdoor movie theater is a community event the whole family can appreciate, Russellville Area Chamber of Commerce Vice President Stephanie Beerman said. “Sunset Cinema is an exciting and laid-back event held each summer f...

Pottsville requires bigger UV unitPOTTSVILLE — The Pottsville City Council approved a $58,320 ultraviolet (UV) disinfection unit for its wastewater treatment plant during its regular meeting Monday night. Initially, the council approved purchasing a smaller unit, which cost a little more than $36,000, but further research proved the unit would be unable to handle peak flow. "When we started doing actual design work, we found out that the unit that was priced to the city — that...

Learning about potteryStudents attending RSD’s Summer Enrichment program took part in a tour of the Arkansas River Valley Arts Center recently. Pottery instructor Winston Taylor showed the students the pottery workshops and artisan display centers as a way to inspire students to take up arts and crafts.

July fourth fireworks preparation winding upWith Independence Day right around the corner, Russellville and Dardanelle are completing preparations for their respective firework-filled celebrations. In the past, droughts and high risks of fires led to cancellations of local firework displays. This year, however, following wet and rainy winter and spring seasons, both communities are moving forward with the events. Russellville will host a free Fourth of July firework display at 9:15 p.m....

Pope County quiet on 'wet' initiativeLast month, Attorney General Dustin McDaniel approved the text and ballot title of a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow alcohol sales in every county in the state. The proposed amendment requires 78,133 signatures from registered voters with at least 5 percent of the voters in 15 different counties by July 7. Many committees have formed in other areas of the state to either promote or discourage signing the petition. Thirteen c...

River Valley boasts lowest unemployment in yearsEditor's note: The April 2014 figures in this article are according to preliminary figures released by the Arkansas Department of Workforce Services (DWS) and is the most recent data available. All other figures are according to final figures released by DWS. Unemployment rates in the Arkansas River Valley are the lowest they have been in years. In Pope County, the unemployment rate for April 2014 was 5.8 percent. The unemployment rate has not...

Father daughter pair to perform in 'Oliver!'Day Stoker will headline the River Valley Arts Center’s production of “Oliver!” on Thursday — exactly 28 years after her father did. Michael Stoker, Day’s father, was cast as Oliver Twist in his hometown’s production of the Charles Dickens novel when he was 12 years old. Now Day, 9 years old, is one of two girls playing the role of Oliver in the production, which will premier at 7 p.m. on Wednesday at the Center for the Arts. Day will make her...

Spirit Night for Lott brothers raises $3,300Christie Proctor was happy to see the outpouring of love and support for Hector Wildcats football players Daniel and Brandon Lott at Chick-Fil-A on June 10. Customers filled the lobby, drive-thru and parking lot to help raise money for the Lott brothers, who recently lost both their parents. “It was great,” she said. “There were people out the door the whole time.” Spirit Night for Daniel and Brandon Lott was put together by Proctor and Brooke...

PCLS mulls over mill hikeInvestment banker Dan Lovelady discussed options and obstacles associated with a possible millage increase during the Pope County Library System (PCLS) Board of Trustees meeting Wednesday afternoon. “Library systems have the option of passing a millage, which is add more tax,” he said. “You have the possibility of asking for up to a maximum of 3 mills — [a mill is] one-tenth of a penny — for debt service.” Lovelady, at PCLS Director Shawn Pier...

School board petitions availableCandidate petitions to file for one of the 12 positions in Pope, Yell and Johnson counties during the 2014 school board election are available through the county clerk's office. All candidates — even those running for re-election — must collect at least 20 signatures on a petition from registered voters who are residents of the school district, fill out a political practices pledge and complete an affidavit of eligibility. "We advise [candidat...

Atkins HVAC project on holdATKINS — A state-partnership project to replace 33 heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) units in the Atkins School District this summer was put on hold when the bid came in at around 1.5 times the amount the district expected. The state — which will pay 60 percent of the project, leaving the district responsible for 40 percent — approved accepting a bid at a little more than $1.3 million. Lorrie Smith of Hight-Jackson Associates, w...

One truss at a timeBecca Anderson (right) helps set trusses on one of the two Habitat for Humanity homes currently under construction in Russellville. Anderson and her two daughters were selected for one of the two houses.